Allah created one hundred (parts of mercy) and He distributed one amongst His creation and kept this one hundred excepting one with Himself (for the Day of Resurrection).
The Book of Repentance - Sahih Muslim 2752 b
This narration from Sahih Muslim reveals the immense scope of Divine Mercy, wherein Allah created one hundred portions of mercy, placing only one portion within His creation while reserving ninety-nine for the Day of Judgment.
Exegesis of Divine Mercy
The solitary portion distributed among creation encompasses all compassion, kindness, and benevolence witnessed in this world - from maternal love to the mercy between creatures. Yet this constitutes merely one percent of Allah's total mercy.
The preserved ninety-nine portions demonstrate that the ultimate manifestation of Divine Mercy will be unveiled in the Hereafter, where it will encompass forgiveness, intercession, and divine grace beyond human comprehension.
Scholarly Commentary
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali explains that worldly mercy serves as a precursor to the greater mercy awaiting believers in the afterlife. The distribution highlights Allah's perfect wisdom in apportioning His attributes.
Al-Nawawi emphasizes that this hadith should inspire hope in sinners, for if creation experiences such mercy from one portion, what magnitude of mercy awaits from ninety-nine portions reserved for the faithful?
Practical Implications
This teaching encourages Muslims to never despair of Allah's mercy while simultaneously motivating righteous deeds to qualify for the ultimate mercy in the Hereafter.
The numerical distinction serves as a powerful rhetorical device to help human minds grasp the incomprehensible vastness of Divine Compassion that transcends worldly measures.